In brief
"Zamzam camp's residents, already impoverished from years of conflict, have been forced to flee their homes amid a brutal attack by paramilitary forces. Thousands are now seeking refuge in Tawila, battling exhaustion, hunger, and insecurity along the way."
In the aftermath of a devastating assault, thousands of internally displaced persons previously seeking refuge at Sudan's Zamzam camp are now struggling to find safety. The camp, home to around 700,000 people, was attacked last week by paramilitary fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), aiming to seize the city of el-Fasher. Prior to this onslaught, these residents were slowly rebuilding their lives after a long history of conflict and displacement in Darfur.The attack on Zamzam has been described as catastrophic—Health Minister Ibrahim Khater stated that the camp is now "completely destroyed" with no one left inside. Among the many who fled was 28-year-old Fathiya Mohammed. She recounted her harrowing journey to the town of Tawila, carrying her children and belongings while enduring exhaustion and exposure to violence from thieves. Tragically, she lost her husband in the chaos.The fleeing families are at an increased risk as they encounter further danger on the roads—Fathiya was not the only one to face violence. Saadiya Adam, who escaped with her children, reported her home and belongings being set ablaze. The sheer number of individuals arriving in Tawila has overwhelmed local medical facilities, with Doctors Without Borders reporting over 20,000 seeking urgent care within just two days of the attack.Tawila's hospital is becoming a site of anguish as it receives numerous gunshot victims, including children. Head nurse Tiphaine Salmon highlighted the grim conditions the arriving patients face, with many suffering from severe injuries. Injured individuals like Issa Abdullah and Hussein Khamis recount their traumatic experiences, revealing the dire situation that those who managed to escape have endured.Moreover, RSF's ongoing denial of responsibility for the violence amplifies the uncertainty for survivors left behind—many have lost family members during the onslaught. Amid these tragedies, the call for peace resonates deeply among those like Fathiya, who now seek a cessation of hostilities. As the RSF maintains control over parts of western Sudan, fears mount that the country may further fragment amidst the chaos of war.
